Marche Italy: Tips for two days in the region

Two days in the region Marche Italy

Our two days in the Marche region Italy were like a whirlwind of feelings. A mess of languages. A hurricane of impressions and a quick culinary course in what the Marche region has to offer. But above all they were one thing: an introduction to the sweet life of Italy, the Riviera del Conero and the Marche region. Imagine you meet a group of people who have never seen before. They want to show you their city and its surroundings. They want to explain to you how the people live there. We spend two days in the Marche region and experience exactly that. Except that strangers quickly became friends. Nowhere have we been received as warmly as on this trip. Here are our tips for two days in the Marche Italy region.

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Ancona, the capital of the Marche region Italy

Most should know Ancona as a ferry and cruise port. I felt the same way. Years ago I was briefly in town on a stopover on my way to Greece. At that time I had seen nothing of the city itself. How much we missed became apparent during our current stay. This time we stay overnight in Ancona. These two days in the Marche Italy region show us the place from a completely different perspective. Ancona is definitely a city with a lot of history: Remains of the Roman city wall still surround the old town today. The Arch of Trajan, which was built by Appolodor of Damascus in 115, is imposing.

 

 

Churches and palazzos

The churches with their robust exterior, such as the church of Santa Maria della Piazza, are also impressive. But the palazzos and magnificent buildings in the city center are also overwhelming. Ancona's location by the sea and its port ensured that the city was always a place of trade and encounter with other cultures. At the same time, Ancona was a protectorate of the Pope for a long time. Therefore, money flowed from Rome to the port city at the elbow of Italy. The piazzas and magnificent buildings are evidence of this to this day. On the day of our arrival, we stroll through the city on cobblestone streets and are impressed by its cityscape.

 

 

Dolce Vita in the region of Marche Italy

In one of the piazzas we finally get to know the Dolce Vita of the Marche region. The Piazza del Plebiscito is surrounded by trattorias, which are still lively at a late hour. We end our tour of the city in one of them with a glass of Varnelli or Amado Sibill. This is a type of herbal liqueur that is made in the region. There is also bread peperonata. A nice end to the first of our days in the Marche region of Italy.

 

The Riviera del Conero and the small towns of Sirolo and Numana

The Riviera del Conero extends from Ancona south with the Monte Conero as the center of the region. Unlike in the Region around Cesenatico the coast drops steeply into the sea. Again and again bays nestle beneath the steep slopes on the coast. Some of them can be reached on foot, others only by boat. We are there in winter and a strong wind is blowing from the sea, driving waves and rain clouds in. The sea is rough and looks wild. Almost as if she's cooking. Perfect for blowing the smell of everyday life out of our brains. This is a country and a weather that I like.

 

 

Winter in Sirolo in Marche Italy

We can say that many beaches remain natural in summer. Few beaches are lined with deck chairs and umbrellas in summer. Then we drive south of Sirolo on the coastal road to Porto Recanati. The wind lashes the sea to peaks of waves that drive the sea water onto the beach. Sara shows us her home. She says she doesn't want to live anywhere else. At the same time, she tells us that the beach becomes a kite beach in summer. The winds are strong even during the summer months and make it possible to ride them with kites.

 

 

Sirolo and Numana

Worth seeing are the two small towns Sirolo and Numana. These two places are so close together that you do not know in which of the two you are currently. Only the area code separates them. Worth seeing are both of you. Photo friends like us can not get enough of the many motives that come with us. In this house there are windows surrounded by stone garlands. In that house, autumn flowers in terracotta flower pots decorate the façade and give it a slightly morbid air. On some fronts of houses I discover enamel tiles depicting the name of the inhabitants or any saint in relief. On a balcony sits a black dog next to a flower pot - made of plastic, as it turns out. But the cat, who has found shelter from the wind a few meters down the stairs, is all the more lively and brushes her paws extensively.

 

 

The Basilica of Loreto and the Holy House

Especially if you do not expect it, the surprise is greatest. In the Basilica of Loreto In any case, I didn't have high expectations. Before our visit, I had no idea that this is one of the most important church buildings in Italy next to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Since I am mainly interested in churches because of their architecture, I had no idea that Mary's house was inside them. Neither did I have a clue of the grandeur of the shrine and church that surrounds the inconspicuous Holy House in the center of the basilica.

 

 

The treasury

Even before we enter the church, the treasure chamber or Pomerancio Hall takes my breath away. The ceiling frescoes were created by Cristoforo Roncalli, known as Pomerancio. The life of Mary is depicted in ten ceiling paintings. In the showcases below you can see the votive offerings of the faithful, some of which make me smile. What might the bus driver who left a model of his bus as a votive offering succeeded?

 

 

The church interior

The interior of the church is an orgy of Renaissance elements, of color fireworks in chapel domes, which keep directing my gaze upwards. We see marble statues that appear almost human in their Renaissance beauty. Pope Julius II sent Donato Bramante to Loreto in 1507 to do “big things” there. He accomplished his papal task with flying colors. There are few churches that have impressed us as much as the Basilica of Loreto.

 

 

The Camerano Caves in Marche Italy

It finally becomes mysterious in Camerano. There we visit the "city under the city". These are a series of caves and rooms that are up to thirty meters below the city center. For a long time they should only have been known to the city's nobility, who - perhaps - kept their treasures there. To this day we don't know what they are for grottoes whether they served as a haven for attacks or as a storehouse for the possessions of city leaders. The cross vaults, niches and pillars in many of the caves are more indicative of a religious and mystical context.

 

 

In a grotto one believes to recognize a meeting place of the Freemasons, where new members took their oath and had to endure the acceptance ceremony. Another is fairly certain that it served as the Corraducci family's wine warehouse. The deepest cave served as a cistern for times of need. The water penetrates naturally through the porous rock. Even under siege, the city had enough water for all of the city's residents. Here ends the first of our days on ours Italy road trip through the Marche region for great experiences.

 

 

 

Senigallia, beaches and a historic old town

The second day begins in Senigallia. Senigallia It is located north of Ancona and impresses us with the view of the Monte Conero in the south and the rough sea, whose waves break in the morning light on the shore. Above us, a group of seagulls flies in ranks along the coast. From the glass rotunda at the urban pier, we have a view of the sea. We watch as the sun gives the roaring waves a sparkle. We discover a single hotel on the beach of Senigallia. The others are located away from the sea shore in the city.

 

 

 

 

The fortress Rocca Rovaresca

It is just a few steps from the sea to downtown Senigallia. This comes up with a historic cityscape. Not to be overlooked is the fortress Rocca Roveresca. This was never inhabited permanently. Rather, it served as a refuge for the ruling family of the city, the Della Roveres. Giovanni della Rovere commissioned the construction of the fortress. His family and he only took them in case of danger. In peacetime the Della Roveres lived in the ducal palace. Under the fortress are underground passages through which the refugees escaped. Today you can visit the fortress.

 

 

The Chiesa della Croce

Worth seeing is the Chiesa della Croce with its baroque interior. Her columns are covered with gold leaf. The church contains a number of paintings from the Baroque period. From there it is only a few steps to the town's marketplace, where daily fresh vegetables and other goods are offered. At a stand on the edge we discover a pig, which is roasted in a showcase. Here arises Porchetta, a specialty of the Marche region. For this you roast a whole pig. It smells appetizing as we approach the booth. If you want to try it, you can have a sandwich with it. Italian fast food so to speak. At the rear of the market is the portico from the 18. Century. In this fish were once sold. Today we only see the stone tables on which the market took place.

 

 

The caves of Frasassi in Marche Italy - a marvel of nature

Our next destination is the caves of Frasassi, which were first discovered 1971. In a cave, stalagmites grow upwards drop by drop. In another, a ton of stalagtite hangs from the ceiling like a sword of Damocles over our heads. That's exactly what they called him. The sword of Damocles. I do not go all the way to the fifth chamber of the cave, but turn in the third chamber and go back through the cave system alone. Here I experience for the first time a stalactite cave for me alone. The only sounds I hear on my way are the drops of water that fall from the cave ceiling above me to the rock columns in front of and below me. A ghostly splashing in the silence of the huge cave. How must the explorers have first felt that no cave lighting facilitated orientation?

 

 

Macerata - Opera enjoyment in the open-air theater, art and carriages in the Palazzo Buonaccorsi

Macerata is our last stop on our trip. On the way there we leave the gorge where the Frasassi caves are and drive through agricultural land where we see vines and olive groves again and again. Individual farms are often hidden behind ancient trees. They give us an idea of ​​how old the cultural landscape through which our path leads is. In Macerata we park our vehicle at the Sferisterio, through whose arcades we enter another time. Inside, the building turns out to be an open-air theater with eight thousand seats. Various operas are performed on its stage in summer. We have the most beautiful view of the grounds from the balcony on the top floor. “A ticket here only costs 10 euros,” explains our city guide Eva. "You have to stand for that, but the view is worth it."

 

 

 

The Palazzo Buonaccorsi

The Palazzo Buonaccorsi is a few hundred meters up the hill. “When I studied here a few years ago, it was a house that was ready for demolition,” one of our hosts explains. "And look at what happened to it today!" He laughs. I have to agree with him. On the first floor there are works of art and the magnificent rooms of the palazzo, with the ballroom impressing us the most. In order to amaze the guests, it was built, explains Eva. That still works today. In the basement of the palace we visit an exhibition about carriages. We get to know the different sizes of the carriages, from comfortable travel carriages to sporty two-seaters to children's carriages drawn by goats or dogs. We experience what a carriage ride like this feels like in a dummy that seems to clatter over the bumpy cobblestone streets while the houses of the city glide past in front of the “carriage window”.

 

 

The diversity of the region Marche Italy

A good two days in the region Marche Italy we were on the way. Our hosts have shown us a country that can hardly be more versatile. Endless sandy beaches as well as hidden, sandy bays below cliffs, rough seas with views of Monte Conero, cities with palaces, fortresses and museums, hilly landscapes with vineyards and olive groves, caves whose delicate beauty lures into the depths and above all: very hospitable people, who welcomed us full of warmth. The original Italy in all its facets. Two days in Ancona and surroundings we enjoyed La Dolce Vita in Italy.

 

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Travel Arrangements:

Arrival by air to Marche Italy:

Book yours here Arrival by plane, bus or train*. The nearest airport is in Ancona.

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Here we stayed on our brand Italy trip

In these three hotels we stayed during the two days in the region Marche Italy.

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Find more Slow Travel Tips you find here. discover Routes in Italy with this link.

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Source: own research on site. We would like to thank the Riviera del Conero and ConfCommercio for the friendly invitation to this blogger trip for two days in the region of Marche Italy.

 

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos © Copyright Monika Fox, TravelWorldOnline